Dryer with ground proximate air cushion device



Dec. 26, 1967 c. c WHISTLER, JR 3,359,545

DRYER WITH GROUND PROXIMATE AIR CUSHION DEVICE Filed Aug. 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L99 I08 n22 I22 I24 INVENIOR. F Charles (7. whlsflegdz I BY His Affomey 1967 c. c. WHISTLER, JR 3,359,645

DRYER WITH GROUND PROXIMATE AIR CUSHION DEVICE Filed Aug. 25, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I06 I02 2| o '22 I26 oo l 2 2 Fly. 2

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His Attorney United States Patent 3,359,645 DRYER WITH GROUND PROXIMATE AIR CUSHION DEVICE Charles C. Whistler, Jr., Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 481,685 3 Claims. (Cl. 34-45) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In preferred form, a domestic dryer including means for circulating heated air through a tumbling drum, said air circulating means including an exhaust duct having an adjustable damper therein for diverting the circulating air stream into a ground proximate air cushion device on the base of the dryer for supporting the dryer on an air cushion.

This invention is directed to suspension means for domestic appliances, and more particularly to a system for suspending a major domestic appliance on an air cushion for enhancing its mobility.

In the case of most major domestic appliances normally operative in a stationary position, one problem has been to provide mobility without damaging either the appliance or the surface covering on the floor on which the appliance is supported.

In the past such appliances have generally overlooked this problem and utilized fixed depending members on the base of the appliance that engage the fioor and direct a high unit load thereagainst to stationarily locate the appliance with respect to the floor. On some appliances of this type the fixed members have been replaced by casters or other rolling friction devices in an attempt to increase the mobility of the appliance as it is moved with respect to the supporting floor. Such casters and the like still direct a substantially high unit load against the supporting floor that will tend to damage surface coverings thereon.

An object of the present invention therefore is to improve the mobility of major domestic appliances of the type normally operative in a continuous stationary position by the provision of a low-profile, low-pressure air caster disposed on the base wherein the air caster unit is energized by blower means in the domestic appliance to produce an air cushion for lifting the appliance and supporting it on the floor in a relatively frictionless manner.

A further object of the present invention is to improve the mobility of domestic appliances of the type including an operative unit having air directed therethrough by a blower means by the provision of fluid supply means for selectively directing air from said blower means into a low-profile, low-pressure air caster supported on the base of the appliance to produce an air cushion beneath the appliance for supporting the appliance on a floor in a frictionless manner; and to provide such supply means in such an arrangement, wherein air flow into the air caster is controlled by means operative to de-energize the normally operative systemin said appliance.

A further object of the present invention is to improve the mobility of a domestic 'dryer unit of the type including a tumbling drum, air flow passageway means for circulating air through said drum and a heater and a blower for directing heated air through said air flow circuit by the provision of a low-profile air caster unit supported on the base framework of the dryer in close spaced relationship with the supporting floor and passageway means communicating the blower with the air caster means and wherein control means are provided to selectively direct all of the air flow from said dryer into said air caster unit, said control means including means to de-energize 3,359,645 Patented Dec. 26, 1967 ICC said heater means when the air flow is passed into said air caster.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in vertical section through a domestic dryer including the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a lower portion of the dryer shown in FIGURE 1 shown in its air supporting position; and

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic wiring system for c0ntrolling the operation of the appliance in FIGURES 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIGURE 1 a domestic appliance 10 is illustrated including an outer cabinet 12 having a top 14, a front wall 16, a rear wall 18 and side walls 20, one of which is shown in the drawings. Between the side Walls 20 is a rear bulkhead 22 spaced inwardly of the rear wall 18. Interiorly of the bulkhead 22 is located a rotatable tumbling drum 24 that includes a rear wall 26 secured to a drive shaft 28 thatis rotatably supported by a bearing assembly 30 in the rear bulkhead 22. The drum 24 further includes a front wall 32 having an annular axially outwardly directed collar 34 thereon that is supportingly received on a collar 36 arranged coaxially of the collar 34 and in telescopic relationship therewith. An annular seal 38 is disposed between the collars 34, 36, The collar 36 is integrally formedin a port plate 40 having its outer periphery supported within a resilient ring 42 supportingly located on an inwardly turned flange portion 44 of the front wall 16. The port plate 40 forms an access opening 46 to the interior 48 of the tumbling drum 24. The access opening 46 is closed by a door member 50 suitably pivotally supported on the front wall 16.

In the illustrated embodiment the tumbling drum 24 is rotated by a belt pulley system 52 that is operatively connected to the shaft 28 and to a shaft 54 from an electric drive motor 56 that is supported on the base framework 19 by a support bracket 58. The drive motor 56 includes a second drive shaft 60 directed from its opposite end to drive a blower unit 62.

The blower unit 62 circulates air from an opening 64 in the rear wall 18 through the space between the rear wall 18 and the bulkhead 22 into an inlet opening 66 in an enclosure 68 that surrounds a heat source representatively shown as being an electrically energizable resistance coil 70. Air is thence discharged through an opening 72 in the bulkhead 22 into an inlet chamber 74 formed by the bulkhead 22, the rear drum wall 26 and an annular seal 76 supported on the inner surface of the bulkhead 22 and having its innermost end in sealing, sliding engagement with the outer surface of the rear wall 26. From the inlet chamber air is discharged through a plurality of openings 78 in the rear wall 26 and thence through the interior 48 of the drum 24 through the access Opening 46 into a duct 80 formed in the inner wall of the door member 50. The duct 80 communicates with a tubular outlet member 82 formed in the port plate 40 thereby discharging into an opening 84 formed by the front wall 16 and a plate 86 located rearwardly thereof. The chamber 84 has a removable filter 88 disposed therein to remove lint from the circulating air stream which is discharged through an outlet 90 of the plate 86 into a flexible conduit 92 connected to the inlet 94 of the blower unit 62. Air discharged from the blower 62 passes through a conduit 96 having an outlet opening 98 therein communicating with the exterior of the dryer 10 outwardly of the rear wall 18 thereof.

In accordance with certain principles of the present invention the suspension system for the appliance It in addition to including the depending leg members 21, further includes a low-profile, low-pressure air caster assembly 100 that is operative to produce an air cushion for supporting the appliance on a floor in a relatively frictionless manner. When air cushion 100 is operative the depending leg members 21 are raised from the supporting floor whereby any tendency for such leg members to damage the supporting floor surface is effectively eliminated.

Referring now more particularly to the air caster unit 100 in FIGURE 1, it is shown as including a flat upper plate 102 that is arranged to extend across substantially the full planar extent of the base framework 19 of the appliance. The upper plate 182 is disposed exteriorly of the outer cabinet 12 at a location where it will not interfere with the normal operative components of a domestic appliance such as the blower, motor and belt pulley drive system 52 of the illustrated dryer assembly. The unit further includes a flexible member 104 depending from the underside of the plate 102 and having its outer peripheral edge bonded to the plat-e 182 at 106 and a central portion thereof bonded to the plate at 108. The flexible diaphragm member 104 and plate 102 form an annular pressurizable chamber 110 that communicates with a tubular inlet 112 which is connected to the conduit 96. A damper 114 in the conduit 96 is selectively positioned by a link 116 and an actuator arm 118 that is connected to a solenoid 120 secured to a suitable fixed support (not shown) whereby air discharged from the blower 62 can be directed through the inlet 112 into the pressurizable chamber 110.

This causes the flexible diaphragm 104 to be inflated from the configuration shown in FIGURE 1 into the configuration shown in FIGURE 2 wherein a parametric surface portion 122 on the diaphragm is located in closed spaced relationship with the floor to form a plenum space 124 beneath the appliance into which air is directed from the pressurizable chamber 110 through a plurality of centrally located openings 126 in the diaphragm 104 into the plenum chamber 124 from whence it is discharged between the parametric surface portion 122 and the floor beneath the cabinet to form an air cushion on which the appliance is supported for movement with respect to the floor merely by overcoming the inertia of the appliance. At this time, as shown in FIGURE 2, the depending members 21 that normally stationarily locates the appliance are raised from the supporting floor.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 3, when a con toller 128 ,on a rearwardly located control planel 130 of the appliance 10 is located in an on position, a heater energization circuit is completed from a wire L through a door switch 132 which is closed when the door member 50 is closed, thence through a timer controlled switch 134 and a conductor 136 that is electrically connected to the resistance heater 13 8. The heater energizing circuit further includes a conductor 140 having a normally closed pair of solenoid actuated contacts 142 therein. The conductor 140 in turn is connected to a wire L Additionally, the controller 128 closes a motor energizing circuit from wire L through switches 132, 134, thence through a conductor 144 and a conductor 146 to the electric motor 148, thence through a conductor 150 to the neutral or ground Wire of a llO-volt source. The circuit of FIGURE 3 further includes a timer motor circuit from wire L through switches 132, 134, the conductor 144, a conductor 152, thence through the timer motor 154, a conductor 156 and a normally closed solenoid actuated switch 158 which is connected to the wire N by a conductor 160. The controller 128 includes cams (not shown) driven by a timer motor 154 to open and close switch 134 to carry out a predetermined cycle of operation in the dryer during which time the solenoid 120 is tie-energized so that the damper 114 is positioned to cause air to be discharged from the blower 62 to be vented exteriorly of the dryer.

When it is desired to move the appliance, an extension cord (not shown) longer than the normal appliance cord or pigtail can be connected to a receptacle 162 on the control panel 130 of the appliance to complete an auxiliary motor energizing circuit from Wire L through a conductor 164 through motor 148, thence through a conductor 166 solenoid actuated contacts 168 and a conductor 176 to wire N. The contacts 168 are maintained closed by solenoid 120 which has the coil thereof energized across L -N through conductors 171, 172 when the extension cord is connected to receptacle 162.

The above-described auxiliary motor energization circuit is required in many cases since the normal service connection from wires L and N to complete the motor energizing circuit described above is not of sufficient length to provide a suflicient degree of movement of the appliance when it is supported on the above-described air cushion.

When the appliance is connected to the extension cord for energizing the auxiliary motor circuit, the solenoid 120 is energized to open the switches 142 and 158 to deenergize the heater circuit and timer motor circuit. The solenoid 120 also closes the contact 168 and positions the damper to divert all of the air flow from the blower into the air caster unit 100. The heater is de-energized to prevent an undesirable heat buildup in the tumbling drum when the dryer is being supported and moved on the air cushion produced by the air caster assembly While the embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A domestic dryer comprising, a rotatable drum, means including a heater means and a blower for circulating heated air through said rotatable drum, an outer cabinet enclosing said rotatable drum, a base framework on said outer cabinet, depending members on said base framework for locating said cabinet stationarily on a floor, a low-pressure air caster depending from said base framework and having a plenum forming member located in closed spaced relationship with the floor, passageway means for directing air from said blower into said air caster means, damper means for controlling air flow through said passageway means, electrical circuit means including means for controlling the energization of said heater and said blower, and means for de-energizing said heater means when air is directed through said passageway means into said air caster.

2. In a major domestic appliance normally operative in a stationary position the combination of, an outer cabinet, a base framework for reinforcing said outer cabinet, a plurality of depending members on said base framework adapted to stationarily locate said outer cabinet on a floor, said depending members locating said base framework in spaced relationship with the floor, a machinery compartment located immediately above said base framework including an electrical drive motor therein, means forming an operative chamber in said outer cabinet immediately above said machinery compartment, first fluid passageway means in said cabinet including means for directing air through said operative chamber, second fluid passageway means in said cabinet, means including a blower for discharging air into said first and second passageway means, a low-pressure air caster disposed beneath said base framework and engageable therewith, means for directing air through said second passageway means into said air caster means, said air caster means including means for producing an air cushion beneath said appliance for raising said depending members above the floor, control means including means for selectively directing air from said blower into said first and second passageway means including electrically energizable circuit means operative in accordance with a predetermined cycle of operation to control conditions in said operative chamber, said control means including means for tie-energizing said circuit means when air is directed through said second passageway means.

3. A domestic dryer comprising, a rotatable drum, means including heater means and a blower for circulating heated air through said rotatable drum, an outer cabinet enclosing said rotatable drum, a base framework on said outer cabinet, depending members on said base framework for locating said cabinet stationarily on a floor, a low-pressure air caster means depending from said base framework and having a plenum forming member located in closed spaced relationship with the floor, passageway means for directing air from said blower into said air caster means, damper means for controlling air flow through said passageway means, electrical circuit means including means for controlling the energization of said heater and said blower, and means for de-energizing said heater means when air is directed through said passageway means into said air caster means, said low-pressure air caster means including a rigid planar member disposed beneath said base framework having the upper surface thereon in engagement with said base framework, a flexible member depending from said planar member and forming in cooperation therewith a pressurizable chamber for receiving air from said second passageway means. means for directing air from said pressurizable chamber beneath said flexible member for producing an air cushion beneath said cabinet throughout substantially its full. planar extent.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,751,038 6/1956 Acheson 15-327 3,251,431 5/1966 Mackie 180-7 3,253,667 5/1966 Mackie 1807 3,282,360 11/1966 Amann et al. 1807 FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner- 0 I. I. CAMBY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DOMESTIC DRYER COMPRISING, A ROTATABLE DRUM, MEANS INCLUDING A HEATER MEANS AND A BLOWER FOR CIRCULATING HEATED AIR THROUGH SAID ROTATABLE DRUM, AN OUTER CABINET ENCLOSING SAID ROTATABLE DRUM, A BASE FRAMEWORK ON SAID OUTER CABINET, DEPENDING MEMBERS ON SAID BASE FRAMEWORK FOR LOCATING SAID CABINET STATIONARILY ON A FLOOR, A LOW-PRESSURE AIR CASTER DEPENDING FROM SAID BASE FRAMEWORK AND HAVING A PLENUM FORMING MEMBER LOCATED IN CLOSED SPACED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FLOOR, PASSAGEWAY MEANS FOR DIRECTING AIR FROM SAID BLOWER INTO SAID AIR CASTER MEANS, DAMPER MEANS FOR CONTROLLING AIR FLOW THROUGH SAID PASSAGEWAY MEANS, ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE ENERGIZATION OF SAID HEATER AND SAID BLOWER, AND MEANS FOR DE-ENERGIZING SAID HEATER MEANS WHEN AIR IS DIRECTED THROUGH SAID PASSAGEWAY MEANS INTO SAID AIR CASTER. 